tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post5344550682779403752..comments2015-08-01T20:00:30.377-05:00Comments on Boston 1775: Choc-Talk at the Old South Meeting House, 7 Jan.J. L. Bellnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-37772339282582247112010-01-04T17:39:20.548-05:002010-01-04T17:39:20.548-05:00There was a concerted political campaign to cut do...There was a concerted political campaign to cut down Americans’ drinking of tea after the Townshend duties in 1767, and especially after the Tea Act of 1773. But the recommended substitutes tended to be local herb teas; after all, if Americans all drank coffee at the same rate as they had drunk tea, then the London government could put a duty on that instead. And the consumption of tea appears to have bounced back after that boycott. <br /><br />The lasting popularity of coffee over tea in America and the end of chocolate as a similar drink seem to be long-term trends, probably to do with trade routes and fashions. The switchover may well have come at different times in different regions or households. I’d be interested in hearing from folks who have more data or insight into the question.J. L. Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-49801797476597332832010-01-04T17:25:26.593-05:002010-01-04T17:25:26.593-05:00This brings back something I found curious when at...This brings back something I found curious when attending a class on Colonial Williamsburg at William &amp; Mary. In reading William Berkeley&#39;s journals, I noticed a gradual switch from mentioning having tea to having coffee (I think is was about midway through his journals). Do you know if there is a clearly defined time when coffee became more of a trend?cenantuahttp://cenantua.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-6034757433860759422010-01-04T15:55:42.963-05:002010-01-04T15:55:42.963-05:00Those are very interesting topics--I know coffee a...Those are very interesting topics--I know coffee and tea from a more England-centered perspective, but not in the American context. If you go to any of these, let us poor northern New Englanders know what you think.pilgrimchickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13808106043964544413noreply@blogger.com